Montgomery man arrested on arson charge

A Montgomery man has been arrested on charges of arson in a domestic violence-related incident, according to fire investigators.

According to Montgomery Fire/Rescue District Fire Chief K.R. Peoples, 39-year-old John Dillard McAvoy III is charged with setting fire to a home occupied by his ex-girlfriend.

According to the Montgomery Fire/Rescue Bureau of Investigations, at approximately 7:30AM today, emergency responders were dispatched to a house fire in the 3200 block of Money Road.

Montgomery Fire/Rescue Investigators say witnesses reported seeing McAvoy in the vicinity before and after the fire. Surveillance video from nearby cameras showed McAvoy approaching the residence shortly before smoke became visible and leaving the scene as the fire intensified, investigators say.

Montgomery Police located McAvoy near Old Selma Road later in the morning. He has been charged with first-degree arson and is being held in the Montgomery County Detention Facility.